The Director of NCAD, Declan McGonagle has announced his retirement.

As the new college year begins September 21st the replacement remains unknown. It has been a tumultuous year for the south inner city art college.

Under McGonagle’s directorship the number of students and courses has expanded beyond the facilities of the campus, according to the students, and the fees have increased substantially too.

Students argued that the courses they are doing are being devalued – academically not financially – and they are being ignored.

Check out the background to all that here.

“I have decided, for personal reasons, to retire from the post of Director of NCAD at the end of 2015. I am glad that, over seven years, with a mandate from the Board at the time, I was able to initiate a programme of necessary change on which NCAD can build for the future, including new curriculum developments, expansion of courses and student numbers, additional studio spaces, an innovation strategy and enhanced relations with peer institutions and local communities.

I would like to thank An Bord and the wide range of colleagues with whom I have worked and look forward to making other contributions to the cultural sector in the future.”

Keep up to date on the NCAD Student Action page here.